Abstract: A mowing device for mowing material between rows of planted crops in an agricultural field, comprising a series of mower assemblies attached to a tractor and spaced from each other so that each mower assembly is located between an adjacent pair of rose of a printed crop. Multiple blades are mounted for rotation on each mower assembly for cutting material growing in the space between adjacent pairs of rows of a planted crop. A first deflector in front of each mower assembly moves planted crops around the outside of the mower assemblies so as not to be cut by the mower assemblies. A second deflector may be provided within each mower assembly and located rearwardly of the blades to push mowed material laterally toward the adjacent rows of a planted crop.

Abstract: A corn stalk guide system for reducing or eliminating the loss of corn stalks as they are guided into the grab rolls of a corn header. The corn stalk guide system generally includes a pair of guide members which may be positioned on opposing teeth of a corn header assembly to guide corn stalks into the assembly without being expelled by exposed sprockets. Each guide member is a tapered, plastic structure having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. The first guide member will be secured to a first tooth via one or more fasteners extending through the one or more apertures and the second guide member will be secured to a second tooth similarly with fastener(s) and aperture(s). Each guide member will cover a sprocket which normally would extend out from the tooth, thus guiding corn stalks and preventing loss of corn stalks.

Abstract: A corn harvesting header comprises a knife bar extending along a front lower edge of a cutting header, with triangular knife sections attached along the bar and a plurality of guards with guard fingers extending forward. Pointed divider pans extend forward from the header such that a slot is formed between adjacent pans. A mounting bracket extends down from a rear of each pan and is attached to forward end portions of a pair of adjacent guard fingers, leaving rear portions of these guard fingers exposed. The divider pans are attached to alternating pairs of guard fingers such that a pair of bare guard fingers extends forward under and laterally adjacent to edges of each slot. The bottom surface of each seed pan is above the guard fingers an elevated distance that is greater than a spacing distance between the guard fingers. The header cuts the corn rows at angle.

Abstract: A corn stalk guide system for reducing or eliminating the loss of corn stalks as they are guided into the grab rolls of a corn header. The corn stalk guide system generally includes a pair of guide members which may be positioned on opposing teeth of a corn header assembly to guide corn stalks into the assembly without being expelled by exposed sprockets. Each guide member is a tapered, plastic structure having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. The first guide member will be secured to a first tooth via one or more fasteners extending through the one or more apertures and the second guide member will be secured to a second tooth similarly with fastener(s) and aperture(s). Each guide member will cover a sprocket which normally would extend out from the tooth, thus guiding corn stalks and preventing loss of corn stalks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multifunctional corn harvester which comprises a vehicle, a longitudinal lift conveyer and a cutting platform. The longitudinal lift conveyer is installed on the vehicle with the cutting platform in front. The cutting platform is composed of an upper layer & a lower layer within a reel assembly device and a transverse corn conveying device as well on the upper. On the other hand, the lower layer cutting platform adopts a stalk collecting and conveying device, which comprises a root and stem cutter, a stalk conveying device, an auger and a stalk conveyor. This type ear corn harvester can realize not only the corn ear cutting but also diversified demands of stalk treatment. The compacted configuration adopts double-layer cutting platform combined with a corn ear picking function on the upper layer and stalk cutting & conveying functions on the lower layer. The alternative function is provided for stalk crushing device for cleaning & crushing.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for a sugarcane harvester having pivotable forward frame sections and a pivotal topper assembly for maneuverability. The steering mechanism includes arms extending from the respective frame sections and topper assembly. Steering links pivotally interconnect the arms in a way that the topper steering arm is sandwiched between a pair of links. An eccentric pivotal connection between the topper steering arm and the links is provided to accommodate the change in radius. Actuators connect to the links to provide movement of the steering arms.

Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.

Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly includes a knockdown roller, a butt lifter roller and/or an upper feed roller. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.

Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly includes a knockdown roller, a butt lifter roller and/or an upper feed roller. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.

Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.

Abstract: A front attachment for harvesting stalk-type crop for a self-propelled harvesting machine has at least one cutting device for cutting the stalk-type crop, at least one transverse conveying device for conveying the cut crop to an intake device of the harvesting machine, wherein the at least one cutting device is at least one continuously circulating carrier element having a cylindrical cross section and including at least one cutting element having a coating containing hard-material elements, and at least one pair of guide elements which drive and guide the at least one cutting device.

Abstract: A method for collecting biomass, such as straw, and for producing a pyrolysis liquid, such as oil or tar, from the biomass, includes the step of collecting the biomass from a growth site, e.g. a field, by means of a mobile unit. The biomass is continuously fed into a pyrolysis apparatus accommodated by the mobile unit, as the mobile unit is moved across the growth site. While the biomass is processed in the pyrolysis apparatus, further biomass is simultaneously being collected. The pyrolysis apparatus may be a flash pyrolysis or fast pyrolysis apparatus relying on centrifugal forces for forcing biomass towards a reactive surface in a pyrolysis reactor. The mobile unit may be self-propelled.

Abstract: A machine for the harvest of stalk-like plants with a cutting arrangement for cutting plant stalks that extends in a plane terminating in a cutting edge and a conveying arrangement for taking up and conveying away the cut plant stalks. The plane of the cutting arrangement is inclined upward in the forward operating direction (V) of the machine.

Abstract: A processor for processing standing plants has a primary crop sub-system for processing upper parts of the standing plants and a secondary crop sub-system for processing lower parts of the standing plants, the primary and secondary crop sub-systems operable to process the respective upper and lower parts of the standing plants as the processor moves through a stand of the standing plants. The processor, as part of a field located vehicle, is operated to separate a primary crop such as corn cobs or grain from the standing plant at a first processor zone, and to separate a secondary crop suitable for bio-fuel processing from the standing plant at a second processor zone. Settings of the primary and secondary crop sub-systems can be made adjustable so that the relative lengths of upper, lower and root parts of the standing plants can be adjusted as desired.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a compact arrangement of side-by-side mounted intake and mowing units, cross conveyors and deflection coveyors, which operate to efficiently deliver cut crop to a central outlet at the rear side of the header. Some of the compactness is attributable to a drive arrangement which makes it possible to mount the axes of rotation of certain cross conveyors respectively within the cylindrical envelopes described by the peripheries of the vertically spaced intake disks of the intake and mowing devices.

Abstract: A machine for mowing stalk-like crop is equipped several intake and mowing arrangements disposed in side-by-side relationship to each other for the cutting of standing crop and for the conveying of the harvested crop. At the rear side of the intake and mowing arrangements, a transverse conveying channel is provided through which the harvested crop can be transported at least approximately transverse to the direction of operation. The downstream end of the transverse conveying channel communicates with an intake channel through which the harvested crop can be delivered to a chopper arrangement. A conveying arrangement, that can be driven, is arranged outside the transverse conveying channel in order to remove a jam, if necessary, that was caused by harvested crop emerging from the transverse conveying channel. The conveying arrangement is mounted for rotation about an approximately vertical axis.

Abstract: A hard facing for an agricultural machine blade which contains hard particles of 40 to 100 .mu.m in particle size and a hardness of greater than 1400 HV in a matrix with hardness of 500 to 800 HV.

Abstract: An adjustable chopper shaft is disclosed including a chopper shaft (14), a gear (18) concentrically mounted on the chopper shaft, the gear being accomodated in a gearbox (40). A setup (30, 32) for selectively allowing rotation of the chopper shaft relative to the gear are provided and this setup for selectively allowing rotation of the chopper shaft relative to the gear is located externally of the gearbox.

Abstract: A forage harvester row crop attachment including a main frame adapted to be attached to a field traversing forage harvester having a crop inlet. An auger, mounted on the main frame generally transverse to the direction of travel of the forage harvester, comprises a tube and flighting mounted on the tube for engaging the upper portion of standing row crops as the forage harvester traverses the field. A transverse cutting assembly, mounted below the auger, has cutting device for cutting the lower portion of standing row crops. Also mounted below the auger are elements for engaging the lower portion of the stalks in cooperation with the auger flighting under conditions where the auger is rotated in a direction that urges the crop material downwardly and inwardly. After the crop is cut it is urged rearwardly by the auger toward a crop outlet in the floor of the attachment adjacent the inlet in the harvester on which the attachment is mounted.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester in which the base cutting assembly is configured and mounted to the harvester so as to allow convenient removal and/or servicing of the base cutting assembly. The base cutting assembly has a gearbox which extends across the space between the side walls, above a path along which the sugar cane is caused to move, and which projects beyond at least one of the side walls; a pair of drive shafts which extend downwardly from the gearbox in the space between the side walls, with each of the drive shafts carrying base cutting blades; and a motor for driving the base cutting assembly which is mounted to the outwardly projecting part of the gearbox. The base cutting assembly may be mounted to one or both of the side walls, preferably with fasteners and onto a mounting provided on the side walls. One or both of the side walls may have a cut-away portion which allows the base cutting assembly to be withdrawn laterally from between the side walls for servicing.

Abstract: A base cutter assembly (16) of a sugarcane harvester (10) in which the accumulation of trash around the drive shaft (32) of the base cutter assembly (16) is prevented. The base cutter assembly (16) is provided with a shaped drive shaft (32) which causes the trash which in use is wrapped around the shaft, to migrate towards an intermediate portion (40) of the drive shaft (32); and a cleaning means (34) positioned adjacent the intermediate portion (40) and adapted to remove the trash which builds up at the intermediate portion (40). The cleaning means may be in the form of a rotatable wheel (42) which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft (32).

Abstract: Apparatus is described for cutting corn stalks and other plant stems in the field after harvesting. The apparatus is towed behind a tractor and includes: (a) a frame, (b) a rotatable cutter wheel carried by the frame and including a plurality of transverse cutting knives around its periphery, and (c) a plurality of spaced-apart, vertically oriented rotatable coulters carried by the frame. The transverse knives cut stalks which are longitudinally oriented on the ground and the coulters cut stalks which are transversely oriented (i.e., cross-wise) on the ground. A sweep member can be included at the leading end of the frame for loosening the butts of corn stalks from the ground.

Abstract: A brush cutter with elevated brush engaging bar to keep brush bent away from brush cutter as cut is made. In one version the cutter comprises a circular saw blade driven from the power take-off at the front of a small two wheel drive tractor. In another version the cutter comprises a rotary lawn mower blade. The lawn mower housing preferably has a removable panel and a bar spaced above the portion of the housing normally covered by the panel.

Abstract: A variable width tool attachment for use with a vehicle is herein described as generally comprising a complete tool which is split vertically and in the direction of vehicle travel to form two half tools. The two half tools are slidably mounted for mutual relative movement in the direction normal to the direction of vehicle travel, i.e, in the direction of tool width. A hydraulic ram cylinder or the like is operable to move the two half tools to form the desired width.In one form of the invention, a horizontal cutting header is provided with a chain cutter and a chain drive having at least one moveable idler sprocket to take-up and let-out chain in the width direction whenever the width of the tool is varied.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism for a maize cutter having several divider plates and at least one outside deflector for directing cornstalks into the maize cutter; the maize cutter also having entry chains or entry bands disposed between the divider plates and also between the divider plates and the outside deflector for holding the cornstalks fast and feeding the cornstalks to the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is a double cutter including upper sets of cutter blades and co-acting associated lower sets of cutter blades, with each of the upper and associated lower cutter blades being arranged in a column. The upper and associated lower sets of cutter blades are laterally spaced from each other to define bladeless sections therebetween. The sets of cutter blades are disposed between the divider plates and also between the divider plates and the outside deflector, respectively, with the bladeless sections being disposed under the divider plates.

Abstract: Agricultural mower has vertical axis crop-cutting rotors mounted for floating vertical movement relative to semi-mounted mower frame. Draught forces are transmitted to each rotor through a draught member below the rotor on which the rotor is journalled. The draught member projects rearwards beyond the cutting circle of the blades and is connected to the frame by an upwardly-extending structure including a parallelogram linkage.

Abstract: Sugar cane harvester has stick alignment device mounted at forward end of harvester crop feed passage to promote longitudinal alignment of canes with said passage. The device comprises an arm mounted centrally in the passage and carrying driven sprockets and a chain. Cane stick engaging bars project from the chain to comb cane sticks into alignment with the passage.

Abstract: A forage harvester row crop header having a mobile frame, at least one fore-and-aft extending row crop unit mounted on the frame and including an elongated passageway for receiving a row of crop as the header advances forwardly over a field of crop planted in spaced apart rows is provided with an improved severing mechanism for severing the crop within the passageway and which further insures the severance of grass-like materials within the crop row. The improved severing mechanism includes upper and lower rotary severing discs and a lower rotary guide disc. The upper and lower rotary severing discs are disposed on opposite sides of the elongated passageway and overlap within the passageway in defining a severing zone for severance of crop material. The lower rotary guide disc is mounted to and below the upper severing disc. Upon operation, the guide disc engages grass-like materials within the row crop and orients the same into the severing zone resulting in severance thereof.

Abstract: A rotary mower comprising at least one rotary cutter unit mounted on a framework, the framework having at least one forwardly extending lower support for rotatably supporting the cutter unit at its lower end, and a freely rotatable shield disposed proximate to the foremost edge of the or each support and underneath the or each cutter unit for shielding said foremost edge.

Abstract: An attachment for mounting on a mobile forage chopper is provided with at least one endless belt conveyor and associated crop cutting assembly for severing a crop row from the ground and moving it along an upwardly and rearwardly inclined passage into the inlet of the chopper. A cutting assembly at the inlet end of the crop feeding passage comprises a stationary cutting blade and a crop engaging star wheel which is connected to the front idler of the belt conveyor. The star wheel cooperates with the cutting blade to shear standing crop material from the ground while cut crop material is being moved along the feeding passage by the belt conveyor.